Robert I, Duke of Burgundy

Robert I "the Old"
Duke of Burgundy
Spouse(s)	Helie of Semur Ermengarde of Anjou
Issue by Helie: Hugh Henry of Burgundy Robert Simon Constance, Empress of Spain, Queen consort of León and Castile by Ermengarde: Hildegarde, Duchess consort of Aquitaine
Noble family	Burgundy
Father	Robert II of France
Mother	Constance of Arles
Born	1011
Died	21 March 1076 Fleurey-sur-Ouche

Robert I of Burgundy (1011 – 21 March 1076), known as Robert the Old and "Tete-Hardi", was Duke of Burgundy from 1032 to his death. Robert was son of King Robert II of France and brother of Henry I of France.^[1]

In 1025, with the death of his eldest brother Hugh Magnus, he and Henry rebelled against their father and defeated him, forcing him back to Paris. In 1031, after the death of his father the king, Robert participated in a rebellion against his brother, in which he was supported by his mother, Constance of Arles. Peace was only achieved when Robert was given Burgundy (1032).

Throughout his reign, he was little more than a robber baron who had no control over his vassals, whose estates he often plundered, especially those of the Church. He seized the income of the diocese of Autun and the wine of the canons of Dijon. He burgled the abbey of St-Germain at Auxerre. In 1055, he repudiated his wife, Helie of Semur, and assassinated her brother Joceran and murdered her father, his father-in-law, Lord Dalmace I of Semur, with his own hands. In that same year, the bishop of Langres, Harduoin, refused to dedicate the church of Sennecy so as not "to be exposed to the violence of the duke."

His first son, Hugh, died in battle at a young age and his second son, Henry, also predeceased him. He was succeeded by Henry's eldest son, his grandson, Hugh I.^[2]

Family

He married his first wife, Helie of Semur,^[3] about 1033, and repudiated her in 1046. Robert and Helie had five children:

1. Hugh (1034–1059), killed in battle
2. Henry (1035–ca.1074). He died shortly before his father, thus making his son Robert's heir. His children included Hugh I, Duke of Burgundy (1057–1093), Odo I, Duke of Burgundy (1058–1103), and Henry, Count of Portugal (1066–1112), among others
3. Robert (1040–1113), poisoned; married Violante of Sicily, daughter of Roger I of Sicily
4. Simon (1045–1087)
5. Constance (1046–1093), married Alfonso VI of León and Castile

• From his second wife, Ermengarde,^[4] daughter of Fulk III of Anjou, he had one daughter:

1. Hildegarde (c.1056–1104), married William VIII of Aquitaine

Ancestry

Ancestors of Robert I, Duke of Burgundy

16. Robert I of France               8. Hugh the Great                       17. Béatrice               4. Hugh Capet                             18. Henry the Fowler               9. Hedwige of Saxony                       19. Matilda               2. Robert II of France                                   20. Ebalus, Duke of Aquitaine               10. William III, Duke of Aquitaine                       21. Emilienne               5. Adelaide of Aquitaine                             22. Rollo               11. Gerloc (Adele)                       1. Robert I, Duke of Burgundy                                         12. Boso II of Arles                       6. William I of Provence                             13. Constance                       3. Constance of Arles                                   28. Fulk I, Count of Anjou               14. Fulk II, Count of Anjou                       29. Rosalie de Loches               7. Adelaide of Anjou                             15. Gerberga

See also

• Dukes of Burgundy family tree

References

1. Kings, Rulers, and Statesmen, ed. Mark Hillary Hansen, (Sterling Publishing Co., 2005), 111.
2. Elizabeth Hallam, Capetian France:987-1328, (Longman Group Ltd., 1980), 30.
3. Burgundy, Constance B. Bouchard, Medieval France:An Encyclopedia, ed. William W. Kibler and Grover A. Zinn, (Routledge, 1995), 156.
4. Georges Duby, The Knight, the Lady and the Priest, (University of Chicago Press, 1981), 90.

Sources

• Gwatking, H. M., Whitney, J. P., et al. Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III—Germany and the Western Empire. Cambridge University Press: London, 1930.